In recognition of Women’s History Month

Posted by Jason Cunning349pc on October 29, 2014

I would like to also rise today and I am going to rise on behalf of the Liberal caucus to pay tribute to Women’s History Month. Women have played a huge role in shaping the Yukon’s history — from First Nation women being matriarchal societies to Martha Black being a pioneer in more than one way during the Klondike Gold Rush in making history as the second female ever to be elected to the House of Commons and, more recently, Yukon’s first female Premier — Pat Duncan — who was only the second female Premier in Canada’s history to become the leader of a province or a territory in a general election.

There are countless other great leaders who have shaped the history of the territory that we know and love today — too many to list.

I would also like to take the opportunity to recognize the great contributions that women with disabilities have made, and continue to make, in our community. Yukon will never be for the faint of heart, Mr. Speaker, and Yukon women with disabilities take on an even greater challenge than most of us in this often harsh corner of the world. I would like to echo the words from our minister responsible for the Women’s Directorate for women like: Joyce Hayden, whose disabilities never deterred her from her political role within this Chamber; Judy Johnny as well for her tireless work advocating for women with disabilities; and, of course, the incredible Stephanie Dixon, seven-time Paralympian, who, as was mentioned, was named the assistant chef de mission for the 2015 Parapan American Games.

These women are absolutely an inspiration to us all.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be celebrating Women’s History Month with the ability to look back on all that women have accomplished in this territory. I commend the Women’s Directorate for all the hard work that they do year after year to address the challenges that women face in a world and in a country where we still have a long way to go toward moving toward equality.

That being said, I urge the House and all Yukoners to further support and enable the work of the Women’s Directorate and important organizations like the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre, the Yukon Status of Women Council and many more. By continuing on this trajectory toward a more inclusive Yukon for all women, we will make it better for all of us and we will have a much more inclusive and democratic society with much more to celebrate next October.